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Translation

Recycling ribosomes

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 14, page 464 (2013)Cite this article

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After mRNA transcription, ribosomes undergo controlled release and recycling of their components. In some cases, however, ribosomes can reinitiate translation at nearby open reading frames. Here, Pestova and colleagues use an in vitro translation system to determine the specific combinations of eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) that allow 40S mammalian ribosomes to remain associated with mRNA and reinitiate translation. Whereas the addition of eIF2, eIF3, eIF1, eIF1A and Met-tRNAiMet promoted 40S bidirectional scanning for a nearby open reading frame, the presence of eIF4F drove scanning specifically in the 3′ direction. Mobility analysis indicated that this ability to reinitiate translation might also apply to 80S ribosomes. Moreover, the authors speculate that several factors, including the relative availability of eIFs, might influence the prevalence of reinitiation events in vivo.

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References

  1. Skabkin, M. A. et al. Reinitiation and other unconventional posttermination events during eukaryotic translation. Mol. Cell 51, 1–16 (2013)

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  1. Alison Schuldt
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Schuldt, A. Recycling ribosomes. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 14, 464 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm3633

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